Is This Your Price Point? $110,000 and Upwards

If you’ve just bought a mare at the recent sales, you’ll now be pondering which stallion could be her perfect match, so we’re going to look hard at the options in various price points in coming days and weeks offering facts and statistics that might bring clarity for the undecided.

The top of the market has had a big shake-up this year with sub fertile Extreme Choice (Newgate) now the most expensive sire in the country following on from his exceptional results from his first two small crops to race that have produced seven stakes-winners including Group I winning 2YO’s Stay Inside and She’s Extreme.

18% SW to runner achieved with good, but not great mares, can’t be ignored and coupled with the sheer market dynamics of supply and demand given his lack of numbers, explains the service fee increase.

The stats are great, but the reality is Extreme Choice has gotten a live foal from less than half the mares he has covered in the past, so if you decide to roll the dice, you need a back up plan.

The remaining sires in this price bracket are all established champion sires with Zoustar (Widden) the younger horse on the ascendancy with fee increases in his past five seasons.

The odd man out is Home Affairs (Coolmore), an interesting prospect as the highest priced first season sire we’ve ever had in Australia.

As the best colt by I Am Invincible since Brazen Beau, Home Affairs ticks a lot of boxes in terms of race performance, type and pedigree with Royal Ascot looming as the potential icing on the cake.

Win, lose or draw, he’s a phenomenal looking colt with a great temperament that could easily be the horse to take the I Am Invincible sireline to the next level.

Below is a ready reckoner of some pertinent facts on these champion stallions - the stakes-winners are worldwide and date from August 1, 2021.